Page 25 of Cold Snap

The ladies were confused when we kicked them out and up to their rooms for a bit, but we invoked our special guest privileges. Now the candles are lit, soft, sexy jazz music is playing, and the fire is roaring and crackling.

Finally, I open the frosted glass doors to the dining room, where they're waiting impatiently in the foyer. "Rosa, my angel." I take her hand, kissing it gently. "May I take you on our very first dinner date?"

She blinks quickly, her soft, brown eyes staring in surprise. Taking her arm, I escort her to our table. The other guys escort their ladies in, and everyone laughs while the wind roars outside.

Even though there are eight of us in the room, the tables are far enough apart that we have our privacy, and it genuinely feels like a real date.

Rosa takes a bite of pizza, her eyes growing wide. "Wow. This is amazing."

I wave toward Cooper and give him a big thumbs up. "I made the drinks."

She takes a sip, then nods appreciatively. "It's subtle, but that lemon and basil is a perfect compliment to the pizza. Well done, Mr. Mixology."

"I thought red wine would be too heavy, plus I'm not really sure how much you ladies all drink."

"Good call." Her hand darts out to rest gently on my thigh. "This date night was your idea, wasn't it?"

"Indeed it was. How did you know?"

She barely suppresses her giggle. "I have this…gut feeling about you. I dunno, I'm just picking up on things."

"I'm glad." Taking her hand, I place it over my heart. "What are you picking up now?"

Her long lashes drop halfway. "That you really do love me," she breathes.

"That's the absolute truth. What else?"

"That we're going to have a lot of fun setting up a house together."

"Good to know. What else?" I place my hand over hers, then begin tracing my finger slowly back and forth across her ring finger. She looks at me strangely, so I ask, "You don't happen to know your ring size, do you?"

Her eyes grow huge. "You can't possibly be thinking like that already."

"Of course I am. But I'm concerned about what kind of ring to get you that won't get in your way while you're working. Maybe something really flat? Maybe a chain so you can wear it around your neck in the kitchen?"

"Definitely a chain. But we can look into that in a year or two, maybe."

"When's your birthday?"

"April nineteenth.Yours?"

"December twenty-first."

Rosa bursts out laughing. "Of course my broody, grumpy man would be born on the longest night of the year."

"I'm putting a ring on this finger before your birthday."

When she starts to shake her head, I tap her hand and make grumbly noises. "Remember when I told you that you are in control of me and in charge of everything? I lied. When it comes to proposals and engagements and setting a wedding date, I am the supreme ruler."

"Supreme ruler?"

"The supremest. Boss. King. The dude in charge." I take a piece of decorative grass from the centerpiece and tie it aroundher ring finger. "You're going to be my angel queen, and we're going to live a fairytale perfect life in the mountains, where I will always have tons of firewood to keep you warm at all times."

"Plenty of wood, all right," she mutters saucily. Rosa's eyes glow as she leans closer to nuzzle my neck. "You said you read a bunch of mysteries and police procedurals. Are you sure you don't read fantasy and romance as well?"

"No comment."

I didn't know that I needed a woman in my life. But I need Rosa. Her sweetness and light, her sexy curves and shyness mixed with a big dash of saucy attitude.

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